A new banner was unveiled at USC Aiken.
On Wednesday afternoon, the USCA Student Government Association held a quick celebration for the school’s eventing team, which won the 2023 USEA Intercollegiate Championship in May.
During the celebration, the banner was unveiled in the Student Activity Center.
The Intercollegiate Championship, held in North Carolina, saw five members of USCA’s eventing face off against much larger schools, some with teams of nearly 40 competitors.
“I think it goes to say that no matter how small the campus is, there are amazing athletes everywhere and they deserve a shot,” said team president Carson Langenberg.
The Pacers remained neck and neck with Auburn University during the competition weekend, but eventually won the championship with a total score of 89.709. According to USCA Chancellor Dr. Daniel Heimmermann, this is an example of how “under the right conditions, student-athletes can flourish and exceed expectations.”
Even during heavy rainfall on the final competition day, USCA team members rode strong. Team Vice President Heidi Gyselinck said the downpour wasn’t going to stop them.
“Eventing is pretty hardcore,” she said. “They don’t ever stop an event really. It was great, even in the rain.”
“When we first got there, I think I speak for all of us when I say we were intimidated,” said Langenberg, who finished with an individual score of 33.155. “It was very much like, alright, this is real, we’re big kids, we’ve gotta do this. I would go and do it again in a heartbeat.”
“It was pretty great," said Gyselinck. "It was terrifying. It really came down to who can get it done, and we went out there and we got it done.”
“It’s always really rewarding when everyone, horse and rider, performs at their best,” said Sydney Shinn, who has been riding since she was a child. “I think that it’s really important to appreciate the Aiken community as a whole, not even just the school and the team. It’s just nice to be in a horse community.”
Shinn finished with a score of 23.290.
Wesley Anne Norton finished with a score of 37.125.
“It was unreal,” she said of the experience. “We went to go compete and we came out with a win, and it was just an unreal experience.”
Alexa Duncan graduated in December but was still able to compete with the team in what was her first — and last — competition. She finished with a score of 34.254.
“It was surreal,” she said. “It was bittersweet for me.”
Duncan plans to attend graduate school at Immaculata University in Pennsylvania where she will pursue a master’s degree in strategic leadership.
Not present at the competition was Maggie Knotts, who said that when she saw her team had won the championship, she thought to herself “This is just so amazing because these girls deserve the world.”
Knotts plans to compete in 2024.
“I’m excited to go this coming year,” she said. “They’ve given me big shoes to fill.”
USEA’s 2024 Intercollegiate Championship will be held next May in Aiken.
USCA students interested in becoming involved can fill out an equestrian team member form online at usca.edu, or email eventing team advisor Michelle Hodge at michelleh@usca.edu.
